Roller and cage assembly

Abstract

The present invention discloses a roller and cage assembly that inhibits generation of heat and in turn, prevents the occurrence of seizure, thereby attaining a long service life while also offering various other advantages. By cutting away the outside of a cage (1) in order to completely remove indentations (1j) formed during machining of outer retaining projections, the outer surface of those outer retaining projections (1h 1 ) is made to coincide with the normal diameter (D 0 ) of the cage (1). As a result of employing this constitution, even if the roller guide surfaces of the columns (1c) of the cage (1) become worn, the rollers (2) do not make contact with the outer retaining projections (1h 1 ). In addition, since the above-mentioned indentations do not remain, the contact surface area with an attaching partner is increased, thereby reducing contact pressure, thereby allowing the object described above to be attained.

I claim: 
     
       1. A roller and cage assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical cage, having rings on both ends and a plurality of columns which are arranged integrally with each of said rings in a circumferential direction of said cage so as to define pockets parallel with said columns in an axial direction of said cage; and   rollers having a diameter larger than a wall thickness of said cage, said rollers being inserted, respectively, into each of said pockets, wherein   said columns include a substantially U-shaped recess, which extends outside a pitch circle diameter of said rollers and which has an axial length shorter than said pockets, said recess being formed at an inside portion of said columns and centered in the axial direction, and said columns further having thick-walled portions on both ends and a thin-walled portion in the center of said columns, wherein   said thick-walled portions of said columns include outer retaining projections that are projected into said pockets to prevent said rollers from coming off outwardly, said outer retaining projections being formed by machining a portion of said columns formed thicker than a predetermined outer diameter which functions as a guide surface for an outer diameter surface of said cage after said cage is subjected to cutting, into a recess, wherein   an outer circumferential side of said cage is subjected to cutting to remove said recess from said columns, wherein   outer surfaces of said outer retaining projections coincide with said predetermined outer diameter which functions as said guide surface for said outer diameter surface of said cage, and wherein   an outer surface of said columns is level with an outer circumferential surface of said rings over the entire axial length of said columns.   
     
     
       2. The roller and cage assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said columns include notches, said notches enlarge a portion of said pockets, and said notches are formed in the center of said columns in the axial direction and at both sides thereof in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       3. The roller and cage assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising inner retaining projections that prevent said rollers from coming off inwardly, said inner retaining projections being projected into said pockets by machining the inside portion of said columns. 
     
     
       4. The roller and cage assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cage comprises a pair of semi-ring half assemblies that are joined together.